Rail and rail stations have a massive role to play in the delivery of the Government’s key missions for the UK – growth and delivering on net zero commitments. Rail’s unique ability to connect people to places, amenities and opportunity in a sustainable way enables it to support both growth and decarbonisation.

Rail stations are well-placed to be the focus of wider investment in housing, local regeneration and the growth of commercial activity. Stations are the natural focus for densification of housing across grey, brown and greenbelt sites, boosting villages and peri-urban and suburban towns where growing populations can sustain high streets and help local business to thrive. 

Reasons for event:

To share best practice and insights about the role of rail and rail stations in supporting government missions, with a particular focus on creating sustained growth. The Department for Transport has outlined its strategic priorities, of which four out of five apply to rail:

• improving performance on the railways and driving forward rail reform
• transforming infrastructure to work for the whole country, promoting social mobility and tackling regional inequality
• delivering greener transport
• better integrating transport networks

“Growth, net zero, opportunity, women and girls’ safety, health – none of these can be realised without transport as a key enabler” – Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh

What's going to be discussed:

The Labour government has promised to “move fast and fix things”. For rail and rail stations, this means bringing rail franchises into public ownership, getting ‘shadow’ Great British Railways up and running, quickly improving the passenger experience and creating new opportunities for large-scale infrastructure investment in towns, cities and regions.

Programme

Welcome and overview: Philip Beer, Partner, Burges Salmon

Developing trends in rail and station use and revenue?
John Siruat,  Senior Director, Economics, Jacobs
 
The pros and cons of different operating models
Rebecca Cunningham, Head of Industry Commercial Change, GBRTT

Connecting communities via rail stations: new thinking
Silviya Barrett, Director of Policy and Campaigns, Campaign for Better Transport

Laura Wisdom, Partner, Burges Salmon
The impact of the new Procurement Act for transport-led redevelopment projects

New rail-led developenet in London
Emma Hatch, Head of Development, Transport for London & Kevin McGinley, Development Director, Network Rail Group Property
 
Potential for 27,000 homes around existing stations between London and Cambridge? Opportunities with the New Towns Taskforce?
Russell Curtis, Founding Director, RCKa

Densification and mapping: analysis of the grey belt and land around rail stations?
Oliver Russell, Associate, Steer

Capturing wider economic impacts – how does land value change around proposed stations??
Graham Hardy, Technical Director, Business Case Advisory, WSP

The value of rail and stations to the economy
Michael Moruzzi, Director of Communications, Rail Delivery Group 

Reimagining Derby Station Quarter: embedding social value
Rick Lawrence, Partnerships Director, LCR

Capturing major impacts: economic activity, social connections and protecting the environment
Zach Bailey, Regional Growth Manager, Chiltern Railways 

Improving rail services and building new housing: MetroWest Bath+Wiltshire?
Brian Q Love, Chief Executive, ConnectedCities

Beaulieu Park Station, Essex
The new station is part of a wider regeneration of the Beaulieu Park estate in Chelmsford with new road infrastructure and up to 14,000 homes
Billy Parr, Head of Network Development, Essex County Council

Liverpool Baltic
The £100m station scheme is part of Mayor Rotheram’s “Merseyrail for All” commitment to reach communities that are currently not connected to the local rail network
Tony Killen, Rail Development Advisor (Stations), Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
 
Bow Goods Yard, London: making industrial uses a better neighbour  
Bow Goods Yard has been an important industrial and rail freight site since the 1800s. This scheme will push boundaries on the net zero carbon transition for industrial-led development, whilst promoting social equity and engagement with the local community
Irene Frassoldati, Urban Designer, Maccreanor Lavington

Getting the most from your local station: Worcestershire Parkway
The new station will serve two railway lines (North Cotswold Line and Birmingham to Bristol Line) with a local 'mobility hub' serving surrounding communities (secure cycle storage, motor cycle parking, electric car charging points, and direct access to local bus services through a bus/rail interchange
Ian Baxter, Strategy Director, SLC Rail

One Free Ticket Per Local Authority – Grab It Soon